USA > Iowa > Marshall County > The History of Marshall County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 65
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STATE CENTRE MILLS.
These mills were established in 1870 by J. N. Berry. The structure is frame and is three stories high. The building is 36x48 feet in size, and is located on Main street. It was purchased in 1873, by J. B. Cutler. There are two runs of stone in the mill, and preparations are being made for the lay- ing of another set of buhrs. An engine of the Woodruff pattern is used of thirty horse-power ; capacity 400 bushels every twenty-four hours. Consider- able modern machinery is used in the mill, and it is regarded as first-class in every particular.
ELEVATORS.
There are three elevators in State Centre, and one seed house. The lar- gest and perhaps the most extensive of any on the line of the C. & N. W. Ry. is that belonging to Stipps & Fuller. This elevator is of recent build, and is a magnificent structure. The original building is 30x44 feet in size, and an addition of twenty feet has been put on. It has a capacity of 50,000 bushels. There are two dumps on the elevator, one for corn, and a large corn sheller is placed beneath the corn dump that has a capacity of 500 bushels an hour ; the corn and cobs and all foreign matter pass up the elevator and are separated by a splendid system, the cobs going one way, the corn another, and chaff, etc. another. The other dump is for grain. The mill is supplied with all the necessary modern machinery used in elevators. A large engine is used in working the machinery.
The Nichols Elevator was established by W. Walker, but fell into the hands of its present owners in 1870. The building is a large frame structure. The machinery is run by an engine of five horse-power. The elevator has a storing capacity of 20,000 bushels. About 200,000 bushels are shipped annually.
The Union Elevator Company are the proprietors of the Seed House, and what is called J. H. Lay's Elevator. The elevator was built a number of years since by Carpenter Brothers, and was purchased in 1872 by J. H. Lay. This gentleman ships about 250,000 bushels per year.
The seed house is located near the State Centre Mills, and is used for the storage of seeds. The building is 50x30 feet, and is one story high. Has a capacity of about 7,500 bushels.
SCHOOLS.
The first schools in the town of State Centre were rather of the primitive order. The first school was taught in a little old shanty that could not be used for anything else. This was 1865, in a building that stood near where the Presbyterian Church is at present. There were about ten pupils. The school was taught by Jenny Bradbury, now Mrs. Willis Vance. In 1866, a room was rented over the double building belonging to Carpenter Brothers, and school was taught there for a time. In 1867, a part of the present school building was erected. The size was about 30x50 feet, and was two stories. A large addition was placed on the building in 1876, making a large and pleasant school building of three rooms, and provided with a large bell. The Superintendent of the Schools is Miss Lucy Curtis, of Wheatland, Iowa. The number of pupils enrolled in 1877 was 244; the average attendance was 164. The School Board at present are : S. N. Morgan, President ; A. P. Lowry, Secretary :
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
J. W. Tuthill, Treasurer. The Board of Directors are: F. S. Munson, Henry Zwilling, J. D. Chamberlin, D. H. Fitch and John H. Jones.
The total population of State Centre, as taken up to August 20, 1878. is 992 ; total number of residences, 256.
SOCIETIES.
Terrestrial Lodge, No. 276, A., F. ยง A. M .- Established in 1858. First meetings were held over Dobbin's store. The society organized with about ten members. The present officers are as follows : J. S. Ewing, W. M. ; Robert Bell, S. W .; J. C. Cutler, Secretary ; C. B. Rhodes, Treasurer ; E. P. Nich- ols, S. D. ; M. Harms, J. D. Membership, 38 ; meet in Masonic Hall.
The Centre Lodge, No. 260, I. O. O. F., was instituted on the 24th day of July, 1873. The charter officers are : J. W. Gross, N. G. ; A. L. Mark, V. G .; D. A. Lacey, Secretary ; B. S. West, Treasurer. The charter members were : J. W. Gross, A. L. Mank, D. A. Lacey, B. S. West, W. H. Miller, W. Hearreman, W. N. Unthank. The Lodge meets every Wednesday evening, with a present membership of thirty-eight.
A. O. U. W .- This Lodge was established May 4, 1878. There were twenty-seven charter members. The first and present officers of the Lodge are : J. S. Ewing, M. W. ; M. E. Miner, P. M. W. ; S. W. Morgan, Foreman ; J. W. Merrill, O .; J. H. Farnsworth, Recorder; J. Schilling, Receiver ; J. V. Fairhead, F. ; H. B. Lovejoy, Guide ; S. Brown, I. W .; H. Bullock, O. W. Membership, twenty-eight ; meet in Odd Fellows' Hall every Monday evening.
Military .- Company D, First Independent Battalion, I. N. G., was organ- ized January 25, 1878, with sixty-four members. J. S. Ewing is Captain ; James Oleson, First Lieutenant : A. J. Shearer, Second Lieutenant. The Company meet for drill twice each week. The armory is located in Miller's Hall. The Company have a stand of arms consisting of thirty Enfield rifles. The Company, although of recent organization, presents a fine appearance, and will with drill make a fine body of men.
RELIGIOUS.
The Seventh-Day Adventists .- This denomination established itself in State Centre in 1871, with a membership of about ten members. The society regarded itself in 1876 as strong enough to sustain a place of worship, conse- quently the present place of meeting was erected. The building is a large frame 34x50 feet in size, and is located in the eastern part of the city. The society formerly held their meetings four miles southeast of State Centre, at the residence of one of the members. The membership at the time of building the church was about sixty. The edifice was erected at a cost of $2,650, in- cluding the bell. The membership at present is about sixty-five. The preacher delivering the dedication sermon was George I. Butler. The Church is sup- plied now by Pastors on the circuit. A good Sabbath school is held in connec- tion with the Church. About eighty-seven children attend. Henry Rne is Superintendent. Mr. H. C. Stone has been alive to the interests of the Church since its organization.
The Presbyterian Church of State Centre was organized by the Rev. Hiram H. Kellogg, on the 8th day of September, 1866, with ten members, viz .: James Fairman and wife, John MeNary and wife, J. Dudley and wife, William McCain and wife, Mrs. Julia Dobbin and Mrs. Sarah A. Knepper.
The first officers were: J. Dudley. Deacon, and John McNary, Elder. The first minister was Rev. John M. Peebles, who served the Church from Jan-
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
uary 1 to June 1, 1867. The second minister was Rev. John Summers, who served the Church from June 1, 1867, till June 1, 1-70. During his ministry. there were added to the Church fourteen members, and in union with the Meth- odists a house of worship was built in 1869. The Church was then without a minister for about one year, having an occasional supply. During this period nine members were added. The third minister was the Rev. A. Ostrom, who served the Church two years. During his ministry, nineteen were added to the membership, and the Presbyterians bought of the Methodists their half interest in the church edifice, and contracted a debt of about four thousand dollars. The Church was again without a minister for about one year. The last minis- ter, Rev. David Blakely, commenced his work in the Church July 1, 1874, and served the Church four years. During his ministry, 87 were added, and a debt of $3,915 was paid off, leaving the Church now, August, 1878, free from debt, and with a membership of 110 communicants, and a Sabbath school with 235 on the roll, and an average attendance of 100.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of State Centre, was organized in June, 1866, by Rev. J. Haymand, with seven members in the organization. The church building was erected in 1869-70, and the present membership is 64, The Pastors who have served them are as follows: Revs. J. Haymand, R. M. Wade, R. G. Haven, S. Dunton, T. Simmons, N. Macdonald, M. A. Gaadle, J. Haymand.
LE GRAND.
This township is the point where the first settlement was made in the county. It then had no name, but was known as Township 82, Range 17. Mr. Joseph Davidson came in 1847, and settled upon one of the hills east of the Iowa River, in a beautiful grove, which afterward bore his name. Here he lived in a little cabin with the Indians, without a white neighbor for fifty miles. His brother, William Davidson, came a little later, and settled on the farm now owned by Anderson and Hammond, and the farm that Joseph first occupied is owned by Benedict and Hammond. The Davidsons did not wait to reap the harvest of their pioneer ventures, but when settlers became plenty, and civiliza- tion and abundance were a foregone conclusion, they moved to Oregon to find elbow room. Mark Webb came to Le Grand on the 2: th day of May, 1851, from Columbiana Co. Ohio, and pre-empted the 160 acres of land on which he now lives, entering it the following year. He broke five or six acres in June of that year, using a 16-inch " Moline Breaker " and three yoke of oxen. In the same Spring, with Mr. Webb, came William Allman and three sons, settling on the farm now owned by D. Benjamin. These settlers were obliged to go to Iowa City for provisions, and their nearest neighbor was a man named Griffeth, at Rock Valley Mills, who owned the first mill-or "corn cracker " as it was called-in that region. It contained a small pair of buhrs, 23 feet across, and could crack from eight to ten bushels per hour. Some preferred, after the corn was cracked, to sift it, thus making what they considered very good flour. Mr. S. N. Knode came in February, 1852, and lived in a hut that had been used by a passing hunter, and was without door or chimney or even a floor. Lindley Jones and Eli Inman came this same year with their families, Jones settling where Faulkner now lives, and Inman north of them. Webb and Knode built a cabin in 1851 on the present Benedict place.
Mr. M. Webb and James Allman were the first to lay out Le Grand village. in 1852. Mr. Sanders, of Iowa City, had been called to survey out La Fayette, and on
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
his homeward journey, he did the same service for Le Grand. Webb, Allman and Inman were the owners of the site, and they gave the new village its name after Le Grand Byington, a lawyer of Iowa City, who had rendered them some assistance on their way out.
In 1853, the post office was established, with James Allman as Postmaster. Prior to this the settlers were compelled to go to Marengo, a distance of forty- . five miles, to get their mails. The first store was built by Allman, and was 20x30 feet in size, and the lumber was hauled from Iowa City. In 1853, Mr. Webb built him a house, procuring the lumber in Toledo. In 1853, after Le Grand was laid out, William Hayes and Rollin Richards came, and in 1854, Jacob Weitzel, Edmund Harrison, George Hammond, Hiram Hammond and John Allman.
In 1856, D. D. McGrew, J. B. McGrew, F. B. McGrew and Denny McGrew arrived. All of these men were prominent in the early history of the town.
David Harrison, who came in 1854, was one of the first carpenters, and has worked upon nearly every house in Le Grand. T. V. W. Young was the first physician. The first death was that of James Allman. The first birth is in dis- pute, though it is credited as being either Frank Knode or Matilda Allman.
The first school was taught in 1855, by Elizabeth Allman, at her own house, and the neighbors sent their children there to the number of about twenty. A school was subsequently taught in the Friends' Church.
A frame building was erected in 1857, and used for school purposes until 1871, when the present brick structure was erected at a cost of $6,000.
The officers of the school board at present are J. B. Welker, President ; J. B. Emory and James Pearsons, Directors ; Charles Reiterman, Secretary ; N. G. Benedict, Treasurer.
The first brick store was built in 1870, and is owned by Benedict & Willetts. It is a large, two-story building, and is occupied in part by N. G. Benedict as a store and residence, and in part by Dr. Reiterman as a drug store, and by Willetts & White, grocers. Another two-story brick block was built in 1876 by N. G. Benedict.
The Chicago & Northi-Western Railway was constructed through Le Grand in 1862-3. The first train went east the 12th of January, 1863. T. E. V. Young was the first station agent.
Heold & Neiell are the proprietors of a large elevator, which was built in 1870, and is located at the station.
Le Grand Flouring Mill. - This mill was commenced in 1855, and completed in 1856, by Thomas and Isaiah Schofield. It is located on the Iowa River, half a mile north of Le Grand, and is at the present writing the property of Benedict & Hammond. When it was first built, it was about 26x30 and three stories high, with two runs of stone. It was the first mill in this portion of the county, and received grain from a large section of country. It has been subjected to many repairs, but in 1876, it was entirely overhauled and rebuilt, until it is now 100 feet high. The large Leffels turbine wheel is used, two in number, operating six runs of stone. A large elevator is in connection with the mill, with a capacity of 8,000 bushels. The " Middlings Purifier " is used, and all the late improvements. The grain passes through eleven different proc- esses before reaching the buhrs. It is the largest mill in the county.
RELIGIOUS.
The Methodist Episcopal Society found a footing in Le Grand, in 1853, in the shape of Methodist class meetings. These meetings were held around at
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
the cabins of the settlers for quite a length of time, and then afterward in the school house. 1
The Society erected a substantial brick church in 1871, at a cost of $3,100. They purchased the old school house, and built over that. The church is but yet in a state of incompletion, but the members expect that it will be in due time.
The first minister the Society had was in 1853, Rev. "Father" Dunton, as he was familiarly called, and so well known in all this region.
The present Pastor of the Church is the Rev. Mr. Howard ; Trustees. Horace Foote, David Harrison, John Resley, M. A. Webb, J. P. Garlick, D. K. Lusby, O. H. Link ; Class Leader, David Harrison ; President of Board of Trustees, John Resley ; J. P. Garlick, Secretary. Membership is about fifty.
The Friends' Meeting, or Church, at Le Grand, was first organized in the year 1855, by a few members who had moved in from Ohio and Pennsylvania, forming what is called a Preparatory Meeting. The principal ones were John Abbott and wife, Joseph Farquhar and wife, Lindley M. Jones and wife and father, Eli Inman and wife, who are all now in their graves, together with a few others who are still residing here ; William Farquhar, Jesse and John All- man, Thomas McCool and wife, and others to the number of about eighty, having one minister, Julia Ann McCool. The meeting was first held in Mr. L. M. Jones' dwelling, and increased rapidly, until in 1876, it was organized into a Monthly meeting, by appointing J. V. Miles, Clerk ; Joseph Plummer, Correspondent, etc. In this year they built a house, 20x30 feet, costing about $200. This was considered quite a nice thing, and, indeed, did very well for the first three years, when, finding it too small, they put on an addition of fifteen feet to its length. In these days, the Church had considerable accession by Friends moving in, chiefly from Ohio and Indiana, and from Norway, where- upon the meeting divided and organized another meeting of the name of Stranger's, Jan subordinate to Le Grand meeting. This is situated two miles south of Le Grand. In the year 1867-8, the present church building was erected, its size 65x40, its cost nearly $3,500. There are four acres of land deeded to the Church. There are 240 members in this meeting, and in Stranger's, 112. There are six acknowledged ministers, viz. : Barclay Jones, Luther, B. Gordon, Joseph Z. Bean, Clara H. Willets, Amos Davis and Charity W. Davis. Three of this number are not at present resident here. There is one minister at Stranger's, Tannis K. Strangeland. The most prominent members now, including those mentioned above, are Philemon Jones, Samuel T. Mote, Benjamin Hammond, A. M. Townsend, Hiram Hammond, Annie Willits, and D. D. McGrew. The statistical report shows that none of its members use intoxicating liquor. and are a strictly temperate people, except in the use of tobacco, and only eleven members out of the 240 use that in any form. Nearly all are in comfortable circumstances, making a good living, and those few who require aid are main- tained by the members of the Church.
The Friends' Sabbath school was first organized in 1855, by Hettie Jones. E. Allman, and Joel Willits. The school was formed into one class. number- ing ten, with Joel Willits as teacher, and was kept for three months out of the year for several years-opened in the Spring and closed in Autumn. But for the last ten vears, it has been in continuous operation, its average attendance being 102, while the number enrolled is 180. The present Superintendent is Joel Willits ; Assistant Superintendent and Secretary is Rachael Hammond, and there are thirteen teachers and classes.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
FRIENDS' ACADEMY.
This institution of learning is beautifully located about one-half mile west of the village of Le Grand, on the C. & N. W. Ry., near the east edge of the county, and is under the supervision of the Society of Friends. A mutual desire among Friends at Le Grand to establish a graded school, in which their chil- dren might receive a more advanced, and at the same time, a more guarded, intellectual and religious training than they could in the public schools, led to the organization of the Friends' Academy, in the Spring of 1873. The first term of school opened on the 5th of May, with Walter D. Jones, of Ohio. as Principal, and Ellen Michener, of Le Grand, assistant, and an attendance of fifty students.
For a number of terms the school occupied a room in the Friends' Church. W. D. Jones continued Principal of the school during the Fall and Winter terms of the next year, and the Spring of 1874 was taught by the sisters Angie and Annie Frazier, with the former as Principal. In the Fall of 1874. John R. White, of Indiana, was employed as Principal, and still holds that position. One of his first measures was to more thoroughly grade the school. preparing a printed course of study for the primary and academic departments. The latter embraced three years. He was assisted the year of 1874-5 by Mary H. Willits, of Le Grand. The school was gradually increasing in numbers and popularity, and promised to become a permanent institution ; but before this promise could be realized, it became necessary to have a convenient and com- modious place for holding the school. So, about this time, the subject of a new school building was strongly agitated. Something like a joint-stock company was formed and the shares fixed at $25 each. Each one was entitled to one vote for each share subscribed. It was agreed to build a brick house, and George Hammond, Joel Willits and Samuel T. Mote were chosen Building Com- mittee. In the Summer of 1875, the building was put up by James and Charles Oneal, Marion. The carpenter work was contracted and managed by the firm of Heath & Ream, of Marshalltown. The building is two stories high above the basement, and has besides the basement story, two cloak rooms, three school rooms, two class rooms and a library room, and cost about eight thousand dollars. The school moved into the new building in the Winter term of 1875-6. The assistants the past year, 1877-8, were Hettie White, B. S., of Indiana, and Sarah Henderson, of Marshalltown. The instructors at the pres- ent time, 1878, are : J. R. White, B. S., Principal ; Flora E. Greene, B. S .. of Ohio. 1st Assistant, and Anna Willits, 2d Assistant.
The enrollment last year was 108. The school has now turned out three classes of graduates. Henry Townsend composed the class of 1876 and was the first graduate from the institution. The class of 1877 numbered four. and 1878, five. The school year embraces three terms. The Fall and Spring Terms are twelve weeks each, and the Winter term fourteen weeks long. The tuition in the primary is 333 cents, in the academic 50 cents, per week. The course of study in the academic department has been revised from time to time, and now embraces four years' work and combines such branches of science. math- ematics and language as will give those that complete it a good practical edu- cation, and at the same time it is so arranged as to prepare those that wish to take a more extensive course to enter college advantageously.
It is the object of this institution to give thorough intellectual training as far as it goes, and at the same time inculcate into the minds of the students sound moral and religious principles : and although the school is under the con-
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
trol of the Society of Friends, no sectarian feeling exists, and all denominations are admitted equally.
LE GRAND CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE.
The Christian Church of Le Grand may be regarded as the outgrowth of the early religious efforts of that denomination, on Timber Creek, during the first settlement of the county.
The seeds sown there have brought forth abundant fruit in the establish- ment of the Christian Society and Institute in this village.
About twelve years ago, the Society erected a school building at Le Grand, upon the suggestion of the Central Christian Conference, of Iowa. With the exception of a few terms, the school has been in operation since that time. But twelve years have so increased the population of the State that the demands upon the school were greater than its facilities, and consequently, in April, 1877, a meeting was called to consider the desirability of erecting a building to be called " The Student's Home," for the greater accommodation of pupils. Plans were readily agreed upon, and a canvass was immediately commenced to raise the needed funds. The building was to be commenced when $6,000 was sub- scribed, and that was accomplished by January of 1878, when preparations were at once set on foot for its early completion. The building is of brick. 100x40, three stories high with basement, and a wing 60x40 of the same height. containing fifty-six student's rooms. There is a boarding hall, with students' vegetable cellars, and other living conveniences besides those necessary for school purposes. This is called " The Students' Home of Le Grand Christian Institute.'
The success of the school for the past year has been most satisfactory, there being sixty students in attendance-all that could be conveniently accommo- dated. The present officers are: Hon. Nathan Worley, President ; Hon. W. V. Lucas, Vice President ; A. M. Coate, Secretary ; W. H. Chilson. Treasurer. Executive Board-W. G. Benedict, A. M. Coate. J. B. Welker.
The Board of Instruction consists of Rev. J. Q. Evans, Professor of Higher Mathematics, Natural and Moral Science ; R. O. Allen. Teacher of Greek and Latin Languages and Literature ; R. A. Salisbury. Teacher of Penmanship and Commercial Department; Mrs. Clara E. Evans, Teacher of Music and Ornamental Department ; Mrs. Ellen Michener, Teacher of Drawing and Painting ; Dr. Charles Reiterman. Teacher of Voice Culture and Vocal Music.
A Christian Church organization is maintained at Le Grand, with a mem- bership of 150 and an average attendance of 100, and a large Sabbath school. They occupy a brick church 30x40. capable of holding 400 people. and erected at a cost of $1.800. Rev. J. L. Evans is the present Pastor.
LISCOMB.
Liscomb Township was organized in 1870. and the first settlers in the township were Isaac Myers. Leonard Dinsel. J. B. Ralls. S. Bowman and J. H. Hauser. They settled there as early as 1850-51. In 1854, there was' comparatively little settlement made in Liscomb, then Iowa Township. Mr. Samuel Beeson came to this part of the county and purchased five eighties and one forty, two and one-half miles north and a little cast of Albion. He had moved his family to Cedar County in the Fall of 1854, and, leaving them there, had come on and purchased the above-mentioned land. He then returned
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
to his family, wintered there, and moved on his claim in June, 1855. There were only fourteen persons living then in this Congressional township, and among them were John Dixson, Terry Gowing, Thomas Pike and Jesse Binford.
Archie Allison came from Ohio and settled in Iowa Township, not long after. Mr. Beeson. John Bennett and Clinton Gifford came soon afterward.
Mr. Beeson, in speaking of the condition of the county, said, "It was all wild prairie, with no settlement excepting along the timber near the Iowa River, where there were some few settlers. In May and June, 1854, the land was nearly all entered for about six miles cast of the Iowa."
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